The effects of intensive mindfulness meditation training on mental health: evidence of effectiveness and safety from a matched-controlled intervention study.
Yuval Hadash, Omer Dar, Romi Oren-Schwartz, Amit Bernstein
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy April 29, 2026 DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2026.2656720 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA 6-day intensive mindfulness meditation retreat led to significant improvements in well-being, negative affect, perseverative thinking, brooding rumination, and depression symptoms at a 2-week follow-up compared to matched controls, with effect sizes comparable to longer 8-week mindfulness programs. Effects on positive affect, emotion regulation, and anxiety symptoms were not significant. Rates of reliable deterioration in mental health were equal or lower among retreat participants than controls, including among those with clinically elevated depression or anxiety. The findings suggest that such retreats are safe and effective, even for clinically vulnerable adults.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Prospective intervention study Preregistered Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 135 |
| Population | Adults who registered for 6-day insight mindfulness meditation retreats and matched controls |
| Intervention | 6-day insight mindfulness meditation retreat |
| Duration | 6-day intervention, 2-week follow-up |
| Keywords | Adverse effects Meditation retreat Meditation safety Mental health Mindfulness interventions |
| Registration | NCT04749264 |
| Key finding | A 6-day mindfulness meditation retreat produced significant improvements in well-being, negative affect, perseverative thinking, brooding rumination, and depression symptoms at 2-week follow-up compared to matched controls, with no evidence of increased adverse effects. |
Abstract
Despite increased public interest and research on intensive high-dose mental health interventions, much remains unknown about the mental health effects and safety of multi-day intensive high-dose mindfulness meditation training. Accordingly, we conducted a preregistered prospective intervention study among 89 adults who registered for 6-day insight mindfulness meditation retreats and 46 matched controls (Mage(SDage) = 33.75 (9.50), 56.3% female). Retreat participants demonstrated significant improvements in well-being, negative affect, perseverative thinking, brooding rumination, and depression symptoms at 2-week follow-up compared to matched controls (η2 range = .04-.08, ps < .05). Effects on positive affect, emotion regulation, and anxiety symptoms were not significant. The percentage of participants exhibiting statistically reliable deterioration in mental health at 2-week follow-up was equal or lower among retreat participants than matched controls, both in the full sample and in a subsample with clinically elevated depression and/or anxiety (ORs < 1). Findings suggest that a 6-day mindfulness meditation retreat can produce rapid improvements in mental health, comparable to effect sizes of much longer 8-week mindfulness-based programs. Findings also challenge concerns about adverse effects of intensive high-dose meditation retreats and suggest they may be a safe and effective intervention modality, even for clinically vulnerable adults struggling with depression or anxiety.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov registration ID NCT04749264.